Ghani, Imran Khan talk Afghan peace on phone

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday talked over the telephone and invited each other to visit their countries besides discussing the Afghanistan peace process.

A statement from the Presidential Palace in Kabul received by Pajhwok Afghan News said both the sides discussed the Afghanistan peace process under leadership and ownership of the Afghans.

It said President Ghani invited the Pakistani premier to visit Afghanistan at his earliest convenience and Khan reciprocated by inviting the Afghan president to visit Pakistan.

The telephonic contact between President Ghani and Pakistani premier Imran Khan coincides with US representative for reconciliation in Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad’s arrival in Islamabad on Thursday morning.

The US representative is expected to meet with Pakistani officials and discuss with them the Afghan peace during his four-day visit to that country.

The Pakistani media reported that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani telephoned Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss the ongoing international efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Ghani "expressed his gratitude for Pakistan’s sincere facilitation of these efforts" initiated by Khalilzad, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office in Islamabad said.

It said Khan assured the Afghan president that Pakistan was making "sincere efforts for a negotiated settlement" of the Afghan conflict through an inclusive peace process, "as part of shared responsibility".

"Both leaders also agreed to remain engaged and create an environment for resolving all outstanding issues," the press release said.